Visitation Panel Chides Versities for Prioritising IGR

By Kuni Tyessi

The Presidential Visitation Panel has observed with dismay that tertiary institutions in Nigeria are giving priority to Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) at the expense of quality education.

The Chairman of the panel, Mr. Bukar Aji, who spoke on behalf of chairmen of visitation panels of 88 institutions, disclosed this in Abuja yesterday.

For example, he said after interaction with faculty heads, unions and other bodies to get to the root of the problems in an institution like the University of Abuja, only about 45 per cent of the 11 terms and recommendations were implemented, which he added may not be a pass mark.

Aji, therefore, noted that the federal government had invested, and still investing in tertiary institutions, calling for an improved quality to justify the government’s expenditure on institutions.

He added that at the inauguration of the panels, the committees took upon themselves to address all 11 terms of reference given to them.

“We painstakingly took time to X-ray the entire university management and did our forensic work to come up with the report.

“We took time as panel to see the extent of the white paper of the last visitation panel and we observed areas of disappointment. From approval of the last white paper at the University of Abuja, only about 45 per cent of the recommendations were implemented which may not be a pass mark.

“From the recommendation that came out from our reports, it has been observed that the priorities given to IGR are affecting qualities in our various institutions,” Aji said.

While responding, the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, promised that adequate attention would be given to the recommendations that emanated from the report.

Adamu, who was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Chukuemeka Nwajiuba, said a sub-committee would be set up to look into the white paper that would be drawn from the recommendation.

He said with such in the pipeline, it is hoped that the incessant friction between the staff unions of the institutions and government would be mitigated and resulted in the much desired industrial harmony.

According to him, “The white paper that will be drawn from the recommendations of the reports will address the challenges thus identified in our tertiary institutions in the past years.

“I want to assure the country that the government will give accelerated attention to the implementation of the white paper that will be produced from these.”